Package conveying, closing, and sealing machine



May 5, 1942. J. R. WYSONG PACKAGE CONVEYING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1938 2 SheetsSheet l May 5, 1942. J. R. WYSONG PACKAGE CONVEYING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1938 BNNNN T N s E e 0 O O A {T efim/ km. N N wn s wm. g ems W R 69 a e v ma l v Patented May 5, 1942 PACKAGE CONVEYING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE James R. Wysong, Richmond, Va., asaignor to Larus & Brother 00., Inc., Richmond, Va.

Application December 13, 1938, Serial No. 245,530

Claims.

This invention relates to package conveying closing and sealing machines, and may be considered in the nature of an improvement over the machine disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,763,493.

The type of machine with which the present invention is concerned performs the functions of conveying loaded cartons from a packaging machine, for example, to a suitable point of deposit or transfer and simultaneously eflects closing and sealing of the sealing fiaps of thecartons. The machine is used in the present instance in of the carton (note Fig. 6), the flaps a and 22 being first folded inwardly and the flap c then overlying these infolded fiaps and being partially overlapped by the sealing flap d. In the present machine, the flaps a, b and c are folded before the carton or box enters the machine, leaving the sealing flaps d projecting laterally (note Fig.

a tobacco factory for conveying, closing and sealing cartons containing individual of tobacco.

An object of' the present invention is to provide a machine of the type specified which is of relatively simple construction and which at the same time is more flexible in its use than prior known machines for performing similar functions. More specifically, the invention contemplates a package conveying, closing and sealing machine in which the various operating members whicheffect closing and sealing of the carton are so constructed and arranged as to permit a limited packages amount of adjustment in accordance with varying sizes of cartons, and in conjunction with this feature, means rendering the machine portable whereby it may be used at will at different places and in operative relation with packaging-machines or the like handling different sizes of cartons; improved means for effecting sealing of the sealing flaps after having the adhesive applied thereto; improved means for effecting discharge of the cartons; and other features of novelty and advantage which will become more apparent in view'of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in broken side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged transverse sectional views; a

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the rear extremity of the conveyor, particularly showing the means for effecting discharge of the sealed cartons; and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cartons handled by'the machine.

The packages to be sealed move into the ma- 4) to be moistened with an adhesive, folded down and sealed as the carton is conveyed through the machine.

The machine comprises a conveyor consisting of a belt 5 of flexible material having thereon spaced cleats G'adapted to engage cartons placed on the conveyor. The conveyor belt 5 is trained over pulleys I and 8 located at opposite ends of the machine, the belt being kept under suitable tension by adjustable tension pulleys 9, l0 and II which engage the lower stretch of the belt; The pulleys 1 and 8 are mounted on shafts l2 and I 3 which are rotatably supported in bearings l2a, I30, connected to longitudinally extending side frame members [4 and I5, which are cross connected by frame member l6 forming a supporting base for the upper stretch of the belt 5 (note Fig. 3).

Boxes or cartons disposed on the belt 6 at the right'hand end of the machine pass into a runway defined by the belt 5 and side members H and 51a with the flaps d at opposite ends of the box overlying the side members and guided through adhesive-applying rolls l8-.l8 and cochine from the right hand end of the latter as viewed in Figs. 1 and,2. The packages or cartons for which the machine is adapted are of that type having fiaps a, b, c and d at opposite ends acting pressure rolls I9- -l9'. The rolls ill-l8 run in glue pots or analogous containers 20 and 2t having therein a suitable adhesive. The rolls l9l8' are adjustably mounted on a shaft 2! having gears 2222 secured on the ends thereof and meshing with gears 23-23 having a driving connection with-the rolls l8-I8. On

the one end of the shaft 2! is a sprocket 24 hav,'-

ing trained thereon sprocket chain 25 which is driven from sprocket 2-6, as will subsequently appear.

The rolls i8, 58' have their active surfaces knurled or otherwise roughened to more readily take up the adhesive.

The rolls. |8--|8' together with the glue pots 28-40 are supported for lateral adjustment on frame members or blocks 21-21 and flanged plates 28-28, each glue pot being adjustably secured on the flange of its supporting plate by means of bolts 28a passing through slotted open-.

ings 28b. Plates l1 and Ila each has secured thereto sleeve 28 in which thread bolt 29a projects and has thereon spring 28b, the latter abutting against said sleeve and exerting an inward died, this adjustment need only be within a relatively small range, although it may obviously be as great as is-necessary. Gears 23, 23' are of a width to accommodate a reasonable range of adjustment of the glue pot assemblies associated therewith. V 1

After the adhesive has been applied to the seal ing flaps d of the cartons, the latter are advanced to a folding spool or roller generally indicated at 30 and having folding flanges 30a, 30b, each of which is preferably formed with an outwardly beveled contour or folding surface and whereby the flaps are more eifectively guided between the said folding flanges illa, 30!), note particularly Figs. 2 and 4. The spool is mounted on a shaft 3!, and the arrangement is such that the folding flanges 30, 30b of the spool may be adjusted laterallyto accommodate varying lengths of cartons. With this in view, the flange 30b is provided with a bearing hub 32 which telescopes into the main hub of the spool, and the main hub is adjustably secured on hub 32 as indicated at 33. Both folding flanges 30a and 30b are supported in bearings 34 and 34a which are adjustably secured on the frame members of the machine through the medium of bolts 35 passed through slotted openings therefor. By loosening the bolts 35, the bearing assembly for the flanges 30a, 30b together with the latter may be adjusted to space the flanges the proper distance apart.

After the sealing flaps d have been folded by i the flanges 30a, 30b and the spool 30, they are engaged by side members 36, llia each in theform of an elongated shoe having an outtumed end 361: serving to guide the box or carton therebetween; and in connection with these members 36, 35a heating means 31 is provided in the form of a unit or housing 310 secured to the outer side of the members 36, 360. In the present instance,

' the heat is obtained through the medium of'an electric coil or resistance unit supplied with current through conductors 38 extending to a suitable source of electric power. The heating and setting members 36, 36a together with their heating units 31 are adjustably supported 'on the frame of the machine through the medium of bolts 39 extending through slotted openings 39a and whereby these members may also be adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the units previously described and also in accordance with the dimensions of the carton passing therebetween.

From the heating units 36, 3641, the boxes.'ad-' vance into a U-shaped runway defined by bottom belt conveyor 5 and side belts 40 and 40a trained over pulleys ll, a mounted on vertically extending shafts 42. The belts 40, a are backed up by side members 43, 43a which are adjust- -ably mounted on the frame of the machine as by means of bolts 44 passing through slotted openings a. These side members serve to hold the sealing flaps closed while the adhesive finally sets.

The entire machine is portable and accordingly is supported on legs 5 provided with rollers or wheels 48. In this manner the machine as a whole may be moved in any place where its services may be desired. This feature is of considerable importance where one machine is to serve a number of packaging machines, and in conjunction with this feature of portability, it is of prime importance that the spacing of the various sealing instrumentalities be adjustable to conform to diflferent sized cartons since certain of the packaging machines may be handling cartons of varying dimensions.

- The machine may be driven through the medium of motor 4'3, drive chain 48, sprocket 49, the latter connecting through sprocket chain 50 with sprocket gear secured on shaft 5|. Shaft 5| has secured on the opposite ends thereof beveled gears 62, which mesh with coacting beveled gears 53 secured on vertically projecting shafts l2 to which the pulleys 4!, a for driving the side belts 40, 400 are secured. Also from the shaft 5! the drive is taken to sprocket chain 54, thence to pulley 55 mounted on shaft 56, and from this latter pulley through belt 51 to pulley 58 secured on shaft 3|.

A discharge chute or tail board 59 is pivotally mounted on side members 60 at the rear extremity of the machine, and to ensurea smooth uninterrupted transfer of the cartons from the rear end of the conveyor 5 to the said chute,-a member in the form of a roller BI is suspended from brackets 62 pivotally mounted in the side members 80. Thus, as each carton reaches the rear end of the belt 5, it moves on to the roller SI and a succeeding box or carton abutting the car- I ton on the roller causes the latter to swing. rear wardly and upwardly onto the chute or tail board 59. The board 59 may be propped on a table or other member adapted to receivethe cartons, and

due to its pivoted action, is adaptable to varying heights. By this means, the boxes or cartons are prevented from blocking free discharge of the conveyor.

, In operation, assuming the machine is to be fed manually, an atttendant takes a carton with the flaps a,.b and c already folded and disposes -it in the runway at the'right hand end rme the adhesive-applying rolls l8 and I 9, at which point an adhesive is applied to the under side of each flap. As the cartons are advanced further along the runway, the flaps d are engaged by the folding flanges 3041,3011 of the folding spool 30 and folded inwardly onto the flaps c. From this point the cartons advance between the heating units 38, a where the flaps are set,

the heat applied through the units 31 being adjusted to obtain the most effective setting operation. The cartons then advance between the belts l0 and 40a, where the flaps become finally set and sealed, after which the cartons are dis-.

charged onto swinging roller and chute or tail board 59. v I

The machine iscapable of alarge .75 than those enumerated herein are inherent in the improved machine, and that in obtaining these advantages the machine may be varied in construction and design within certain limits without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for conveying, closing and sealing cartons, a conveyor, means defining in conjunction with the conveyor a runway for the cartons, means for sealing the flaps of the cartons while being conveyed, and means at the discharge extremity of the conveyor adapted to receive the cartons from the conveyor, said receiving means including a bodily movable and rotatable member on which each carton is deposited by the conveyor and propelled thereover through contact with succeeding cartons.

2. In a machine for conveying, closing and sealing cartons, a conveyor, means defining in conjunction with the conveyor a runway for the cartons, means for applying an adhesive to certain flaps of the cartons, means for sealing said flaps while the cartons are being conveyed, a

, chute or tail board pivotaily mounted at the discharge end of the conveyor in spaced relation to the latter, and a transfer member swingably mounted in said space and adapted to receive the cartons from the conveyor and transfer them i to the tail board.

3. In a machine for conveying, closing and sealing cartons, a conveyor, means defining in conjunction with the conveyor a runway for the cartons, means for applying an adhesive to certain flaps of the carton, means for sealing said flaps while the cartons are being conveyed, a chute or tail board pivotally mounted at the discharge end of the conveyor in spaced relation to the latter, a. roller positioned between the pivoted end of the tail board and the discharge end of the conveyor to receive the cartons from the conveyor and effect transfer of the cartons to the tail board, and means swingably mounting said roller.

4. A carton sealer comprising an elongated supporting frame structure, a main cleated conveyor extending substantially the entire length of the machine for conveying cartons therethrough, means at the entrance extremity of the machine for applying an adhesive to the sealing flaps of the cartons including upper and lower rollers providing therebetween a pass for the flaps to be sealed, a rotatable folding member located beyond said adhesive applying means and driven in synchronism with said rollers for folding said'flaps, side shoes beyond said folding member for applying pressure to the sealing flaps while the carton is being conveyed to facilitate setting of the flaps, heating means associated with said shoes, side conveyors of less length than the main conveyor located beyond said pressure applying and heating means, said side conveyors having opposed upright runs adjacent the opposite ,sides of the main conveyor to hold the sealing flaps closed while the adhesive sets, and means for driving said main and side conveyors in unison.

5. A carton sealing machine comprising an elongated supporting frame structure, a main conveyor extending substantially the entire length of the machine for conveying cartons therethrough, means at the entrance of the conveyor for applying an adhesive to the sealing flaps of the cartons including upper and lower rollers providing therebetween a pass for the flaps to be sealed, a rotatable folding member located beyond said adhesive applying means for folding said flaps, side shoes beyond said folding member for applying pressure to the sealing flaps while the carton is being conveyed to facilitate setting of the flaps, heating means associated with said shoes, side conveyors of less length than the main conveyor located beyond said pressure applying and heating means, said side conveyors having opposed upright runs adjacent the opposite sides of the main conveyor to hold the sealing flaps closed while the adhesive sets, and mean for advancing said main and side conveyors in unison.

JAMES R. WYSONG. 

